Declaring Venice's waterways a "national monument," Italy is banning mammoth cruise liners from sailing into the lagoon city, which risks being declared an imperiled world heritage site by the United Nations later this month. It applies to the lagoon basin near St. Mark's Square and the Giudecca Canal, which is a major marine artery in Venice. The cabinet decree also "establishes an unbreakable principle, by declaring the urban waterways of St. Mark's Basin, St. Mark's Canal and the Giudecca Canal a national monument," the minister added. Before the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed international travel, cruise ships discharging thousands of day-trippers overwhelmed Venice and its delicate marine environment. (Antonio Calanni/The Associated Press)UNESCO recommended last month placing Venice on the agency's list of "world heritage in danger" sites.

Source: CBC News July 14, 2021 00:40 UTC